GLA - Aide d’Urgence Parc National Upemba – Composante Gardes et Eléphants.

This project is geared at providing emergency funds for the conservation efforts of CC Rodrigue Mugaruka to elephant conservation in Upemba NP. We will channel these funds through the Virunga Foundation. This is a suitable and reliable organization that can manage the funds and deliver them where/when is needed to the park. Upemba NP harbors the last Elephant population in whole Katanga, there are no more than 300 elephants left in Katanga and they are under severe threat of poaching and Human-Wildlife conflict. When Conservateur Rodrigue arrived to Upemba National Park in October 2015 he found his men with no equipments. It was impossible for him to send his rangers on patrol without rations. Moreover, these guards were/are not paid, to send them in such conditions on patrols will mean that they will become the poachers themselves. Which was already a reality on the ground; a reality that also took the life of the late Chief Warden Atamoto Madrandele in December 2012 while fighting against illegal activities in the park. In quite a short period of time (since October 2015) and with very little support (we were able to secure a very small funding through the Foundation Segré and logistical support of Virunga Foundation for the park and Elephant Patrols); Rodrigue has been able to tackle internal poaching leading to the suspension of the former chief warden of the park and “re-conquering" the mind and hearts of its men. It was beautiful to see how his guards regarded him as an example to follow.